COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Republican Party has endorsed businessman Vivek Ramaswamy for governor.
Ohio’s gubernatorial election is still a year away, but the race to replace Gov. Mike DeWine is heating up with endorsements, commercials and media attention.
In a meeting in Columbus on Friday afternoon, the Ohio GOP State Central Committee voted in favor of the Cincinnati entrepreneur.
Ramaswamy secured the nomination over Attorney General Dave Yost, with 60 votes to 3.
"Ohio's best days are gonna be ahead of us," Ramaswamy told reporters after his endorsement acceptance speech.
President Donald Trump's ally is running on a platform of revitalizing the state.
"We're going to have rollouts of major policies addressing what I see as some of the most pressing issues that Ohio is gonna have to confront in the next decade... Issues like population decline, issues like a looming energy and potential electricity shortage in our state, issues like the educational achievement deficiency," he continued.
Ramaswamy made his splash into politics in 2023. He ran to become the Republican nominee for president before dropping out to endorse and support Trump for the remainder of the campaign. He went to Harvard and Yale Law, where he worked in investments and started a firm. He was appointed to the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency before he was ousted by tech-mogul Elon Musk, according to reporting from POLITICO.
He announced his bid for Ohio governor back in February.
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But not everyone wanted Ramaswamy. State Auditor Keith Faber explained that he would have rather waited until it was closer to the election to choose.
"I respect Dave, I respect Vivek and I respect Lt. Gov. Tressel," Faber told me. "So, I just didn't think it was time for me to jump in and endorse personally at this point."
As Faber mentioned, Ramaswamy beat out Yost.
Yost for Governor Campaign Manager Emily Hottinger issued the following statement:
“We congratulate Mr. Ramaswamy. The Attorney General is going to take a few days to consult with key supporters about the path forward — but the people of Ohio deserve a choice, not a premature coronation of an untested candidate.”
Although some strategists have been pushing Lt. Gov. and former OSU football coach Jim Tressel to run, he hasn't officially announced. But he is considering a run, according to a statement sent to News 5, which was first reported by NBC News.
Tressell said in the statement: “What has been a surprise, and it has been humbling, is how many people are encouraging me to run for Governor. I have not decided yet, but when I became Lieutenant Governor in February, Ellen told me that it seemed like God had more work for me to do, and she was right. While I have not ruled out a run for Governor – and there will be a time in the future for those conversations -- for now, I will remain focused on helping Ohioans get off the sidelines and into our workforce so they can reach their full potential.”
"They all have great strengths," Faber said. "Let them communicate that themselves to the voters of Ohio."
So what’s next for Ramaswamy?
"What kind of qualities are you looking for in a lieutenant governor?" I asked Ramaswamy."
"Look, I want a governing partner… The way I hope to lead Ohio is not just to take the existing [organizational] chart as given and fill them in like spots on a place mat, but instead to ask: 'Who's gonna lead in the areas where we actually want to make a change and drive a difference to the state?'" he said.
So now, the race is heating up for his second in command, with strategists telling us to keep our eyes on Sec. of State Frank LaRose and State Treasurer Robert Sprague. LaRose is running for auditor, and Sprague is running for secretary of state.
"I look forward to helping Vivek succeed as a candidate and as our next governor. I’m focused right now on doing the job I was elected to do and talking with Ohioans about the future of our state and what I believe I can offer as our next auditor," LaRose said when I asked if he was interested in being LG.
I asked the same to Sprague at the event.
"I'm happy to serve the Vivek's administration, however he sees fit... I very much want to serve as Secretary of State," the treasurer said. "To me, it's all about serving the people of the state of Ohio. We need great leaders at every different level and whatever opportunity that I'm given, I'm gonna perform to the best of my ability."
But the name coming up the most from strategists is term-limited Senate President Rob McColley. Although he didn't respond to my question about interest in being LG, he did talk with me earlier in the day about his support of Ramaswamy.
"We need leadership that's going to lead boldly, leadership that's going to lead unapologetically in many ways, to make a lot of very tough decisions, to get us to that next level," McColley told me. "I believe Vivek Ramaswamy represents our best opportunity to do that."
Still, the primary is a year away — so a lot can change in that time.
On the democratic side, the only declared candidate is former Ohio Dept. of Health Director Amy Acton.
Ramaswamy spoke with reporters on Friday afternoon:
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